Patents by Inventor David Andrew Porter

David Andrew Porter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11815583
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an Echo-Planar-Imaging (EPI) magnetic resonance imaging techniques combined with a variable-density undersampling scheme. The technique comprises generating an RF pulse, applying a switched frequency-encoding read out gradient in a variable time interval, and applying simultaneously an intermittently blipped low-magnitude phase-encoding gradient with a variable value of an integral of the phase-encoding gradient. The aforementioned steps are carried out such that the k-space is at least partially undersampled and the time interval of one read out gradient is varied depending on the integral of the phase encoding gradient, such that a ratio between the variable time interval of the read out gradient and the integral of the corresponding phase encoding gradient is kept above or at a predetermined constant value, which is related to a predetermined criteria of image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, University of Glasgow
    Inventors: Patrick Liebig, David Andrew Porter, Robin Heidemann
  • Publication number: 20230003820
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an Echo-Planar-Imaging (EPI) magnetic resonance imaging techniques combined with a variable-density undersampling scheme. The technique comprises generating an RF pulse, applying a switched frequency-encoding read out gradient in a variable time interval, and applying simultaneously an intermittently blipped low-magnitude phase-encoding gradient with a variable value of an integral of the phase-encoding gradient. The aforementioned steps are carried out such that the k-space is at least partially undersampled and the time interval of one read out gradient is varied depending on the integral of the phase encoding gradient, such that a ratio between the variable time interval of the read out gradient and the integral of the corresponding phase encoding gradient is kept above or at a predetermined constant value, which is related to a predetermined criteria of image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick Liebig, David Andrew Porter, Robin Heidemann
  • Patent number: 10578698
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, improved preparation of nuclear spins is achieved by radiating at least one inversion pulse, which acts site-selectively on at least one inversion pulse range, with the at least one inversion pulse range being situated at least partially outside the area under examination, radiation of at least one excitation pulse, read-out of magnetic resonance signals from the area under examination, and reconstruction of magnetic resonance image data from the read-out magnetic resonance signals, the magnetic resonance image data depicting the area under examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Radhouene Neji, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 10317497
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquiring MR signals from an examination object an RF excitation pulse is directed into the examination object while activating magnetic field gradients in two different spatial directions, such that a magnetization in the examination object in the two different spatial directions is limited by the RF excitation pulse and the switching of the magnetic field gradients. The magnetization is excited in one of the two spatial directions, of a slice selection direction, in a number of periodic layers, so MR signals are generated in the multiple periodic slices. The MR signals in the multiple periodic layers are read out using multiple reception coils of the MR scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Radhouene Neji, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 10185014
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, a particularly quiet magnetic resonance sequence, uses echo-planar imaging with at least one gradient switching in a readout direction, wherein the at least one gradient switching in the readout direction has a slew rate that is less than a maximum slew rate defined by system specification parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Robin Heidemann, Martin Ott, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 9989617
    Abstract: A B1 magnetic field may be regulated during a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) imaging sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Nistler, David Andrew Porter, Thorsten Speckner, Christian Wünsch
  • Patent number: 9753110
    Abstract: In a method for acquiring magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance system using a magnetic resonance sequence, the sequence has a first partial sequence in which magnetic resonance data are acquired for multiple slices that have to be acquired simultaneously, from which image data for the individual slices are calculated by a reconstruction algorithm. The sequence also has a second partial sequence for determining additional data, which are used to evaluate and/or assess the magnetic resonance data, and which have a spatial resolution that is lower than the magnetic resonance data, in which radio-frequency pulses and readout processes take place in a slice-specific manner through a time offset within a single measuring process, in which a single continuous excitation period with the radio-frequency pulses and a single continuous readout period with the readout processes follow one another, so that separate additional data are directly determined for each slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 9739857
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for echo planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence of phase encoding gradient fields and a sequence of readout gradient fields are applied in order to produce a well-defined zigzag-type trajectory for entering raw data into k-space. Zigzag-type trajectories can be achieved that have flanks without curvature, or without significant curvature. Cartesian methods for image reconstruction of parallel MR imaging are applied to echo planar MR imaging with such zigzag-type trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: David Andrew Porter, Robin Heidemann
  • Patent number: 9632161
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for time-dependent intensity correction of diffusion-weighted MR images that are acquired with a sequence of different diffusion gradient fields, different diffusion gradient fields are associated with at least one group, with the association with groups being established so that the diffusion gradient fields that are associated with the same group satisfy an orthogonality criterion. For each group, an MR result image is created from the MR images associated with the group, such that the MR result image has a suppressed direction dependency of the diffusion weighting in comparison to the constituent MR images. An intensity correction can be made based on the multiple MR result images and used to correct the constituent MR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Huwer, David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20160238685
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquiring MR signals from an examination object an RF excitation pulse is directed into the examination object while activating magnetic field gradients in two different spatial directions, such that a magnetization in the examination object in the two different spatial directions is limited by the RF excitation pulse and the switching of the magnetic field gradients. The magnetization is excited in one of the two spatial directions, of a slice selection direction, in a number of periodic layers, so MR signals are generated in the multiple periodic slices. The MR signals in the multiple periodic layers are read out using multiple reception coils of the MR scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Radhouene Neji, David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20160161582
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, improved preparation of nuclear spins is achieved by radiating at least one inversion pulse, which acts site-selectively on at least one inversion pulse range, with the at least one inversion pulse range being situated at least partially outside the area under examination, radiation of at least one excitation pulse, read-out of magnetic resonance signals from the area under examination, and reconstruction of magnetic resonance image data from the read-out magnetic resonance signals, the magnetic resonance image data depicting the area under examination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Radhouene Neji, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 9316712
    Abstract: In a method and system for acquiring magnetic resonance image data from a subject, using a data acquisition unit in which a basic magnetic field is generated, a division is designated in a planar section through the subject that divides the planar section into a first section and a second section, with the homogeneity of the basic magnetic field being better in said first section than in said second section. An echo planar imaging sequence is implemented to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data, with magnetic resonance data being acquired from the first section only from gradient echo signals in the echo planar imaging sequence, and magnetic resonance data from said the second section being acquired from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in the echo planar imaging sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: Siemens PLC, Medical Research Council
    Inventors: David Andrew Porter, Christian Schwarzbauer
  • Patent number: 9250307
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and system for the generation of diffusion information, diffusion-weighted MR images of an examination subject are generated, each image being generated using an individual diffusion gradient. The diffusion gradients, and therefore the MR images, are sorted such that, after the sorting, a predefined number of diffusion gradients respectively forms a group. Each diffusion gradient belongs to at least one of these groups, and the diffusion gradients of the respective same group are all as linearly independent of one another as possible. The MR images whose diffusion gradients form a group are assembled into an MR result image. Spatial transformations between the MR result images are determined, and the MR images are modified using these spatial transformations. The diffusion information is formed with the aid of the modified MR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Huwer, David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20150253408
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, a particularly quiet magnetic resonance sequence, uses echo-planar imaging with at least one gradient switching in a readout direction, wherein the at least one gradient switching in the readout direction has a slew rate that is less than a maximum slew rate defined by system specification parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, MRB Forschungszentrum für Magnet-Resonanz-Bayern e.V.
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Robin Heidemann, Martin Ott, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 9095302
    Abstract: In a method described for generating magnetic resonance exposures in which diffusion-coded raw data are acquired with of a diffusion gradient measurement sequence having a number of partial diffusion gradient sequences, at least one diffusion coding gradient pulse is emitted in each partial data set, and raw data of a k-space region are acquired during a first echo after a defined first echo time the k-space regions in total covering a complete k-space. Raw data of an established navigator k-space region are acquired during a second echo after a second echo time the navigator k-space region being identical for different partial diffusion gradient sequences. Reference raw data are acquired by a reference measurement sequence with multiple partial reference sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20150084629
    Abstract: In a method for acquiring magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance system using a magnetic resonance sequence, the sequence has a first partial sequence in which magnetic resonance data are acquired for multiple slices that have to be acquired simultaneously, from which image data for the individual slices are calculated by a reconstruction algorithm. The sequence also has a second partial sequence for determining additional data, which are used to evaluate and/or assess the magnetic resonance data, and which have a spatial resolution that is lower than the magnetic resonance data, in which radio-frequency pulses and readout processes take place in a slice-specific manner through a time offset within a single measuring process, in which a single continuous excitation period with the radio-frequency pulses and a single continuous readout period with the readout processes follow one another, so that separate additional data are directly determined for each slice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20140197834
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for echo planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence of phase encoding gradient fields and a sequence of readout gradient fields are applied in order to produce a well-defined zigzag-type trajectory for entering raw data into k-space. Zigzag-type trajectories can be achieved that have flanks without curvature, or without significant curvature. Cartesian methods for image reconstruction of parallel MR imaging are applied to echo planar MR imaging with such zigzag-type trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: David Andrew Porter, Robin Heidemann
  • Patent number: 8760163
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance apparatus and operating method therefore, 3D navigator data are acquired and are used to correct spatially varying phase errors in contemporaneously acquired imaging data in each shot of a multi-shot data acquisition sequence. A mosaic sampling scheme is used to enter the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance data and the navigator data into k-space respectively in blocks that each form a subset of the entirety of k-space. The navigator data in each shot are entered into a block that is located at the center of k-space, and, in each shot, the corresponding image data are entered into an offset block in k-space, that is offset in at least one spatial direction from the navigator data block. The offset is varied from shot-to-shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Isis Innovation Limited, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Frost, Peter Jezzard, Karla Miller, David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 8729897
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus to acquire spin echo-based MR signals of an examination subject with a multi-spin echo sequence with multiple refocusing pulses after a single excitation pulse in an MR system that has a multichannel RF transmission and reception module: detect a spatial, two-dimensional phase distribution in the examination subject is detected by acquiring navigator signals, a phase and amplitude distribution for the individual transmission channels of the RF transmission and reception module is calculated to generate a magnetic field B1 for one of the RF refocusing pulses to generate the spin echo-based MR signal under consideration of the spatial phase distribution of the navigator signals, and this RF refocusing pulse is radiated via the multichannel RF transmission and reception module with the calculated phase and amplitude distributions of the individual transmission channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Andrew Porter
  • Publication number: 20140091790
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for time-dependent intensity correction of diffusion-weighted MR images that are acquired with a sequence of different diffusion gradient fields, different diffusion gradient fields are associated with at least one group, with the association with groups being established so that the diffusion gradient fields that are associated with the same group satisfy an orthogonality criterion. For each group, an MR result image is created from the MR images associated with the group, such that the MR result image has a suppressed direction dependency of the diffusion weighting in comparison to the constituent MR images. An intensity correction can be made based on the multiple MR result images and used to correct the constituent MR images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Stefan Huwer, David Andrew Porter